Run multiple iPhone apps at a time with Backgrounder

Apple said "no" to background processes. Backgrounder, a new Cydia utility, …

In and of itself, Pandora is reason enough to carry around an iPhone. Yesterday, we posted about how the iPhone has doubled the number of Pandora users. What people really want is to listen to Pandora and do other work at the same time.

With iPhone 2.0, Apple introduced a firm one-application-at-a-time rule. And ever since this whole 2.0, no-background-process rule took over, I've really missed listening to Pandora while using other functions on my iPhone.

The iPhone is a first-class Unix platform, and there's no technological reason Apple must insist on one application at a time. (The non-tech explanation is generally understood to be nonlethal suboxygenated cranial trauma induced by chronic undergarment waddage.) iPhone hacker Ashikase's Backgrounder utility changes everything, though. Backgrounder leverages the iPhone OS and brings multi-app support to the standard iPhone SpringBoard interface.

Putting apps into the background

With Backgrounder, you don't have to log into a secure shell session. You don't have to perform black magic. You just press and hold the home key while running any application. After a few seconds, the Backgrounding Enabled pop-up appears. Release the home button and go about your business. Backgrounder automatically returns you to SpringBoard.

To quit the background application, re-launch it from SpringBoard, then press and hold Home until the Backgrounding Disabled pop-up appears.

To get Pandora to play in the background, do this: Launch the app, start the music playing, press Home until the message displays, and then release. It's really that simple.

Drawbacks

Of course, as with most OS hacks, there are drawbacks to using Backgrounder. Here are the things you really need to know about:

First, and most obviously, you must use a jailbroken phone. Backgrounder is a Cydia app, and you cannot download it (unfortunately) from App store.

Second, when using Backgrounder with Pandora, understand how the iPhone handles sounds. There are System sounds—basically alerts—which overlay any background sounds. Apps that stick to System audio will not interfere with Pandora playback.

There are also Audio Queue sounds, and apps that use these will generally cause Pandora to shut down its audio. And, because Pandora is running in the background, there's no easy way to tell it to start playing again.

Worse, conflicting audio makes some apps go all crashy crashy—nothing that a nice fresh reboot won't fix, but something that can make users get cranky cranky when it happens. Therefore, you might want to use a backgrounded Pandora to surf the 'Net and check your mail, but don't mix it with audio-intensive games.

Third, be aware that Backgrounder is still young and developing. Don't expect a robust error-proof system. Use it for what it is and let its features grow over time.

Summary

Backgrounder is a great addition to the jailbroken app arena. For me, it provides just enough functionality to let me enjoy my Pandora music without being chained into leaving the program open at all times. If you're not afraid of the occasional (or even less occasional and more regular) reboot and you've already jailbroken your phone, this is one application you should really consider installing.